Flow equalizing means



oct. 1s, 1 932.

c. E. LucKE 1,883,309

FLOW EQUALIZING MEANS Filed Aug. 2o; 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l- FIZ;

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UNITED'STATES 1 ATE1-1Tv ori-Ica E. LUcxE, or maw Yonx, N. Y., assmnoi?.l 'ro .Tina nancocx a wILcox conm, or BAYONNE, Naw JERSEY, a conronanonormaw JERSEY rLow EQUALIZING xmms .application mea august 2o, 192s. serial no. 30am.

This invention relates to a novel and improved means for equalizing flow in branches or parallel paths, and will be described in connection with a steam superheater, although not limited to that use. In the aceompanying drawings, in which vI have shown certain selected embodiments of the invention; i

Fig. 1 is a view showing one form which the invention may take, and taken 'on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a view on the line 2-2of Fig. 1.

Fi 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 15 and 17 are views of ot er forms, these dgures corresponding to Fig. 1 and bein taken on correspondingly numbered lineso Figs. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 respectively, whlch correspond to F'v. 2, and which are taken on correspondingy numbered lines on Figs. 3, 5, 7 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 respectively.

Fig. 19 is a section through part of a furnace'showing one form` of the invention in place therein.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, for the purposes of illustration, I have shown the invention as use'dwith 'a superheater header 1,

which is the inlet header of ^a superheater` comprising a plurality of tubes 2 connecting the header -1 to the outlet header 3. The tubes extend transversely from the headers, as is usual, and steam is admitted to the inlet header passes through the tubes and out through the outlet header. In order to equallze the flow of steam through the tubes, I provide a supplementary feed header 4 connected to the inlet header by a plurality of nipples 5 spaced apart lengthwise of the header, substantially throughout the length of the inlet header. This supplementary feed header is provided with a connection 6 b which lit may be joined to a source of supp y of steam.

The steam entering the supplementary feed header has a certain total pressure, which yis the sum of` its static and velocity parts and neglecting friction, this total pressure 1s conetant alon the whole length of the feed header. T evelocity pressure, however, is greatest at the entrance end, and decreases to 5 zro at the other end, while the staticpresferent connections to the inlet header.

sure is 'smallest at `the entrance end and increases to its maximum at theother end. The flow-through the nipples 5 is caused by the static pressure in the feed header, and therefore there is a tendency for more steam to pass through the nipples 5 and enter the header 1 at the end farthest from the entrance to the feed header 4 than at the entrance end. This condition tends to set up a flow along the header 1 in the reverse direction to that in the feed header 4. As a consequence, the static pressure in the header 1 is equalized t-o a large extent, thus equalizng approximately to the same extent the flow of steam from the header 1 into the tubes 2.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown an arrange ment similar to that inFigs. 1 and'2,except that here the supplementary feed header chamber 4 is increased in size,.in order to increase its fiow area and thus permit greater equalizing of the static pressures at the ljifn.. der some conditions it may be found advisable toV increase the flow area of the inlet header instead of the feed header, or to increase the flow areas in both.

In Figs. 5 and 6 are shown the headers 1 and 3 connected by the tubes 2 as before, but in this form I use two supplementary feed headers 7.and` 8 having steam supplied thereto at opposite ends 9 and 10 respectively. Each feed header is connected to the inlet apart lengthwise thereof. Preferably, steam ,is supplied to the two feed headers at sub,-l stantially equal pressures, and therefore itl will be seen that the steam entering the inlet header at any place along its length will be 'under two static .header 1 by a plurality of nipples 11 spaced of a U, with its legs discharging steam into the inlet header from opposite sides and at a plurality fof-points. Thisform has some` of the afore-mentioned advantages inherent in the form of Figs. 5 and 6.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is shown a form which is a modification of that shown in Figs. and 2. Here the feed header 1'3, corresponding to the feed header 4, has a dead space 14 formed therein by means of'a partition 15, this arrangement formin in effect a tapered core with its small end a jacent the entrance end. This arrangement serves to equalize static pressure in the feed header by equalizing the velocity of the steam traveling lengthwise thereof. Y

Figs. 11 and 12 show a modification of the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10, here the en'- trance 16 for steam being located .on the side of the supplementary feed header 17, and there being two cores formed by partitions 18 extending away from the entrance. Each core has its small end disposed adjacent the entrance, as before, and a suitable deflector 19 may be placed in line with theentrance to deflect the entering steam towards the ends of the chamber.

Figs. 13and 14 show a form of construction in which steam enters a supplementary V feed header 20 at about its center, and is then supplied to one or more manifolds 21, each of which has branches 22 connecting with the inlet header 1.

Figs. 15 and 16show theapplication of the type of feed header shown ii! Figs. 9 and 10 to a superheater of the two-pass type, in which steam enters the supplementary feed header 23, whence it is discharged through a plurality of nipples into the inlet header 24 and passes through .the tubes 25v to the header 26 at one end thereof. At the other end this header may be provided with a core formed by the partition 27, to equalize the ilow of steam to the header 28. rIfhe part of the header 26 having the core therein is used as the supplementary feed header for the inlet header 28, and the core may be used or omitted as desired. The inlet header 28 is connected by tubes 29 to the outlet header 30.

In Figs. 17 and 18 is shown a three-pass superheater with the invention applied thereto. Steam enters the supplementary feed header 31 and passes thence through nipples 32 to the header 33, which is con'- nected by tubes 34 to the header 35 near one` end thereof.- The other end of this header forms a supplementary feed header from which steam passes through nipples 36 to the header 37 and thence through tubes 38 to the header 39. One end of this header in turn forms a supplementary feed header from which steam passes through nipples 40 to the inlet header 41 and thence through tubes 42 to the outlet header 43.

While the drawings show the feed headers and inlet headers disposed parallel to each other, this arrangement may be varied if desired, the essential thing being that they be provided with connections entering the inlet header at spaced intervals along its len h. Where the word parallel is used in t e claims to describe the relation of feed and inlet headers, it is to be understood that it means a relation such that the connections can be so arranged.

The invention may be employed in any situation where it may be found suitable, but I have described it `in connection with steam superheaters of the type shown in Fig. 19, such superheaters being usedfor example between upper and lower banks 44 and 45 of horizontall inclined tubes connected to downtak hea ers 46 and uptake headers 47. The superheater shown is disposed in the first pass of the boiler, and its inlet header 48 is connected to the steam and water drum 49 by the connection 50, the supplementary feed header 51 being disposed etween the connection and the header, and connected to the header by Vthe nipples 52.

While, for the purposes of illustration, I

have shown and described the invention asused in connection with the inlet header of a superheater, it is to be understood that I do not limit the invention to that use, as it may be employed in other situations; for example, a supplementary feed or delivery header may be used in the same relation to van outlet leader as to an inlet header of a superheater,

While I have shown certain specific embodiments of my invention it is to be understood that they are illustrative, and that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

1. In combination an inlet header having a plurality of tubes extendin transversely therefrom, a supplementary eed header, a plurality of connections from said feed header to the inlet header and arranged to discharge fluid transversely into the inlet header at points spaced apart substantially throughout the length of the inlet header, and means to supply fluid under pressure to said feed headenff 2. In combination, an inlet header having a plurality of tubes extending transversely therefrom, a. supplementary feed header extending arallel to said inlet header,.a plurality ofP connections between said headers and spaced apart lengthwise thereof substantially throughout the length ofthe inlet header, and means to supply fluid under pressure to said feed header.

3. In combination a header having a plu-y rality of tubes extending transversely therefrom, a supplementa feed header, a. lurality of connectionsv tween said he ers, means` to supply iuid under pressure to said feed header, and means to equalize the static rality of tubes extending transversely there-l from, plurality o rality of connections between said headers means to supply'iluid under pressure to feed header, anda tapered core disposed in said feed header with its small end entrance for said iluid.

5. In combination, an inlet .header havinga su plementary feed header, and a i) connections between said headers and spaced apart lengthwise thereof substantially throughout the length of the firstnamed header.

7 In combination, an inlet header having a plurality of tubes extending transversely therefrom, two supplementary feed headers extending substantiall parallel .to said inlet header, a plurality o connections between said headers and spaced apart lengthwise vof the inlet header, and means to supply fluid under pressure to opposite ends of said feed headers.

8. In combination, a header having a plu? rality of tubes extending transversel therefrom, two supplementary feed hea ers extending substantially parallel to said inlet header, a plurality of connections between said headers and spaced apart lengthwise of the inlet header, and meansto supply iluid under substantially ual pressure to opposite ends of saidfeed eaders.

CHARLES E. LUCKE.

near the 

